WWE TLC: Dean Ambrose Vs. AJ Styles (TLC Match For The WWE World Title)
The following is from our live coverage of WWE TLC. To access our full coverage, click here.
TLC Match for the WWE World Title: Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles
We go to the ring and out first comes Dean Ambrose. WWE World Champion AJ Styles is out next.
We get formal ring introductions from Hamilton. There were some loud boos for Ambrose. The bell rings and AJ attacks but Ambrose drops him first. Back and forth now. AJ ends up standing a ladder under the title and climbing up. Ambrose runs in and stops him. AJ goes back up again but Ambrose stops him. Ambrose whips AJ under the ladder and shoves it into his face on the bounce back. Ambrose clotheslines AJ out to the floor. Ambrose beats AJ up the entrance-way now and tosses him across a table. The assault continues with Ambrose takes it over to the stage area. Ambrose with a suplex on the floor. Ambrose taunts AJ and places him on top of a table. Ambrose climbs one of the taller, heavy duty ladders. AJ gets off the table and walks away. Ambrose with a clothesline from behind.
They fight in the crowd now. Ambrose dumps a trash can over AJ. They fight back to the ringside area. Ambrose comes off the barrier but AJ dropkicks him in mid-air. AJ keeps control on the barrier but misses a flying forearm against the barrier. Ambrose grabs a chair and runs around the ring, nailing AJ in the face with it. Ambrose returns to the ring and stands the ladder up. Ambrose goes to climb up but AJ runs in and stops him.
Styles nails Ambrose with the ladder and wastes some time. AJ drops Ambrose on the ladder and nails a big knee drop. Ambrose ends up catapulting AJ into a ladder leaned up against the ropes, causing AJ to fall to the floor as well. Ambrose launches a ladder out of the ring, knocking AJ back. Ambrose brings a table in the ring instead of a ladder to climb for the title. AJ comes in with a chair shot to the back. AJ keeps control with the chair. AJ stands the chair up and puts Ambrose through it with a sidewalk slam.
AJ keeps control with the chair and stands another up. AJ goes under the ring and brings a few more steel chairs in. AJ stands 4 chairs up together in the middle of the ring. He goes for a suplex through the chairs but Ambrose blocks it and sends AJ crashing through the chairs. A "holy s–t" chant breaks out. Ambrose with a slam into a chair. Ambrose takes a chair to the second rope and elbow drops it onto AJ. Ambrose launches AJ into the corner while he's down. Ambrose leans a table up in the corner now. AJ fights back and unloads. AJ with a snap suplex through the table in the corner.
Ambrose unloads with strikes now. AJ nails a dropkick. Ambrose comes right back with the Lunatic Lariat to turn AJ inside out. More back and forth and counters. Ambrose sends Styles out to the floor. Ambrose smiles before nailing a big dive. Ambrose lays Styles on top of the announce table. He stands a ladder on top of another announce table. AJ climbs off but Ambrose beats him up some more and places him back on the announce table. Ambrose climbs to the top of the ladder that was placed on top of the other announce table. Ambrose leaps and nails a huge elbow drop to put AJ through the announce table. A "holy s–t" chant breaks out as the referee checks on both. Fans chant "this is awesome" as we go to replays.
Ambrose gets up while AJ is still out. Ambrose brings a ladder into the ring and climbs up for the title. AJ leaps in with a Phenomenal Forearm and knocks Ambrose off the ladder. The ladder is still standing. They both climb the ladder now. They trade shots at the top. Both fall to the mat. Ambrose blocks a Styles Clash. Ambrose spins AJ around and sends him into the ladder. Ambrose climbs back up but AJ pulls him down. AJ goes for a powerbomb but Ambrose counters and dumps AJ over the top rope. AJ pulls Ambrose off the apron and drops him at ringside. AJ hits the moonsault into the reverse DDT on the floor. Styles ends up nailing a huge springboard 450 from the ring through a table. Fans can't believe it. Another "this is awesome" chant.
AJ comes back in and positions the ladder under the title. He climbs but out comes James Ellsworth in a neck brace. He does get some boos. AJ stares him down. AJ goes to ringside and beats Ellsworth down. AJ pulls Ellsworth over for a Styles Clash on the steps but Ambrose stops him. Ambrose drops AJ with a DDT on the steps. Ambrose goes back in the ring and moves the ladder under the title. Ambrose climbs for the title but AJ makes it in the ring and climbs up with him. Ambrose knocks AJ off the ladder and out of the ring. Ambrose reaches for the title but Ellsworth comes in and tips the ladder over. Ambrose falls off, crashing through a table on the outside of the ring.
Ellsworth waves for AJ to come back into the ring. We see a dazed Ambrose looking up from the debris at ringside. AJ crawls back in the ring as Ellsworth roots him on from ringside. AJ stands the ladder up and climbs for the title. AJ slowly climbs the ladder and grabs the title to retain.
Winner: AJ Styles
After the match, AJ's music hits as Ellsworth celebrates at ringside. AJ stands on top of the ladder with the title as Ellsworth watches. Ambrose is laid out at ringside. We go to replays. TLC goes off the air with Ellsworth celebrating while AJ stands on top of the ladder with the title held high.